Read Online The Perfect Couple by Brenda Novak - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brenda Novak
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Romance, Suspense fiction, Private Investigators, Romantic Suspense Fiction, Kidnapping, Missing Children, Sacramento (Calif.)
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backyard," she said.
"Because we have landscaping back there. And the damn thing wouldn't quit barking."
Jonathan coughed discreetly. "Can we move on?" They fell silent, and he continued. "In what condition did you find the house when you arrived home yesterday, Mr. Lucassi?"
The two exchanged sulky glances but stopped bickering. "No different than it is now," he said.
As far as Jonathan could tell, there wasn't so much as an out-of-place magazine or a gum wrapper to disturb the pristine cleanliness. He couldn't imagine a child living in such a mausoleum; it wasn't any surprise to him that a dog would be out of the question. But that was none of his business.
"Were any of the doors open? Was the shower running, the TV on? Did you notice anything at all? Describe the scene for me."
Growing more agitated, Lucassi rubbed his hands back and forth on the arms of his chair as he spoke. "The doors were all closed and locked, except the one leading to the pool. She'd been tanning when I called, so I walked outside, expecting her to be asleep on the chaise. Instead I found the iPod we gave her for Christmas, a towel and a book."
"Any food?"
"Food?"
"A brand of soda you might not have purchased? A Starbucks coffee cup even though Sam hates coffee? Anything like that to indicate she might've had a guest?"
52
"Nothing."
Nothing wasn't helpful. Stifling a sigh, Jonathan stood. "Would the two of you walk me through the house?"
Lucassi jumped to his feet, but Zoe said, "I'll do it."
Her fiance might've argued with her about that, too, but the phone rang. Glancing at a set of double doors that probably led to a den of some sort, he nodded and went to answer while Zoe took Jonathan out to the pool through the kitchen.
"You have a nice place," he said as they stepped onto the patio.
"That's what I thought," she said. "I saw what Sam never had, what I wanted to give her--the success, the better schools, the safe environment."
She laughed bitterly. "The safe environment," she repeated on a little sob.
He touched her arm to gain her full attention. "This isn't your fault. It could've happened anywhere."
Her throat worked as she swallowed. "But it wasn't supposed to happen here. That's why I went along with giving up Peanut."
"I know," he said.
She took a deep breath. "Will you level with me?"
A warning prickle traveled down his spine. He knew what she was going to ask and didn't want to answer that particular question. "I'll be as honest as I can," he hedged.
"It's been over twenty-four hours. What're our chances? Will we ever find my daughter alive?"
Squinting into the setting sun, he studied the pool area. He needed some detail, some clue. Soon. If Sam had been abducted, her chances dwindled with every passing minute. "That depends on a lot of factors."
"Like..."
It was his turn to draw a deep breath. "Do you think it's possible the man who raped you might've taken her for revenge?"
What little color she had in her face drained away. "No! He's in prison."
Far from eager to dispel that assumption, Jonathan cleared his throat.
"Not anymore."
She gaped at him for several seconds. "He's out? Already?"
"It's been almost thirteen years. That's actually better than the average."
She shook her head. "He doesn't even know about her."
"Could he have found out? From a friend of your father's perhaps?"
"No."
"What about your mother?"
53
"She's never been part of my life."
"How did Franky know you in the first place?"
"He didn't. Not really. Anyway, I don't want to go into it. He's not aware Sam exists, okay? Please don't mention it again." She glanced over her shoulder, then lowered her voice. "Anton doesn't know. No one does, except my father, and only because I was fifteen and living with him at the time. Sam thinks her dad died in a car accident before she was born. I--I wouldn't want her ever to learn the truth. She might assume that--" she broke down, the sentiment she was trying to express too painful "--that
"Because we have landscaping back there. And the damn thing wouldn't quit barking."
Jonathan coughed discreetly. "Can we move on?" They fell silent, and he continued. "In what condition did you find the house when you arrived home yesterday, Mr. Lucassi?"
The two exchanged sulky glances but stopped bickering. "No different than it is now," he said.
As far as Jonathan could tell, there wasn't so much as an out-of-place magazine or a gum wrapper to disturb the pristine cleanliness. He couldn't imagine a child living in such a mausoleum; it wasn't any surprise to him that a dog would be out of the question. But that was none of his business.
"Were any of the doors open? Was the shower running, the TV on? Did you notice anything at all? Describe the scene for me."
Growing more agitated, Lucassi rubbed his hands back and forth on the arms of his chair as he spoke. "The doors were all closed and locked, except the one leading to the pool. She'd been tanning when I called, so I walked outside, expecting her to be asleep on the chaise. Instead I found the iPod we gave her for Christmas, a towel and a book."
"Any food?"
"Food?"
"A brand of soda you might not have purchased? A Starbucks coffee cup even though Sam hates coffee? Anything like that to indicate she might've had a guest?"
52
"Nothing."
Nothing wasn't helpful. Stifling a sigh, Jonathan stood. "Would the two of you walk me through the house?"
Lucassi jumped to his feet, but Zoe said, "I'll do it."
Her fiance might've argued with her about that, too, but the phone rang. Glancing at a set of double doors that probably led to a den of some sort, he nodded and went to answer while Zoe took Jonathan out to the pool through the kitchen.
"You have a nice place," he said as they stepped onto the patio.
"That's what I thought," she said. "I saw what Sam never had, what I wanted to give her--the success, the better schools, the safe environment."
She laughed bitterly. "The safe environment," she repeated on a little sob.
He touched her arm to gain her full attention. "This isn't your fault. It could've happened anywhere."
Her throat worked as she swallowed. "But it wasn't supposed to happen here. That's why I went along with giving up Peanut."
"I know," he said.
She took a deep breath. "Will you level with me?"
A warning prickle traveled down his spine. He knew what she was going to ask and didn't want to answer that particular question. "I'll be as honest as I can," he hedged.
"It's been over twenty-four hours. What're our chances? Will we ever find my daughter alive?"
Squinting into the setting sun, he studied the pool area. He needed some detail, some clue. Soon. If Sam had been abducted, her chances dwindled with every passing minute. "That depends on a lot of factors."
"Like..."
It was his turn to draw a deep breath. "Do you think it's possible the man who raped you might've taken her for revenge?"
What little color she had in her face drained away. "No! He's in prison."
Far from eager to dispel that assumption, Jonathan cleared his throat.
"Not anymore."
She gaped at him for several seconds. "He's out? Already?"
"It's been almost thirteen years. That's actually better than the average."
She shook her head. "He doesn't even know about her."
"Could he have found out? From a friend of your father's perhaps?"
"No."
"What about your mother?"
53
"She's never been part of my life."
"How did Franky know you in the first place?"
"He didn't. Not really. Anyway, I don't want to go into it. He's not aware Sam exists, okay? Please don't mention it again." She glanced over her shoulder, then lowered her voice. "Anton doesn't know. No one does, except my father, and only because I was fifteen and living with him at the time. Sam thinks her dad died in a car accident before she was born. I--I wouldn't want her ever to learn the truth. She might assume that--" she broke down, the sentiment she was trying to express too painful "--that
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